Copy of RI.KID.1: What I Regret Most in My Life Are Failures of Kindness (9/2/2025)

In 2013, George Saunders delivered a graduation speech at Syracuse University that later became widely circulated. 
Excerpt:

"Down through the ages, a traditional form has evolved for this type of speech, which is: Some old fart, his best years behind him, who, over the course of his life, has made a series of dreadful mistakes (that would be me), gives heartfelt advice to a group of shining, energetic young people, with all of their best years ahead of them (that would be you).

What I regret most in my life are failures of kindness. Those moments when another human being was there, in front of me, suffering, and I responded… sensibly. Reservedly. Mildly. Or, to look at it from the other end of the telescope: Who, in your life, do you remember most fondly, with the most undeniable feelings of warmth? Those who were kindest to you, I bet.

It's a little facile, maybe, and certainly hard to implement, but I'd say, as a goal in life, you could do worse than: Try to be kinder. In my experience, it's a little bit of a confession, a little bit of an assumption of the possibility of divine grace, a little bit of a challenge to actually improve your soul."

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How does the speaker characterize himself in relation to his audience?

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According to the speaker, whom do people remember most fondly?

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What is the main purpose of the speech format described in the first paragraph?

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How does the speaker characterize himself in relation to his audience?

According to the speaker, whom do people remember most fondly?

What is the main purpose of the speech format described in the first paragraph?

What does the speaker mean by looking at it "from the other end of the telescope"?